August 2021 Resource available to assist with vulnerability assessments in -Dade County

Katie Hagemann Resilience Program Manager, Adaptation Office of Resilience, Miami-Dade County 2 Miami-Dade County’s Vulnerability Assessment of Critical Facilities

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Miami-Dade County’s Vulnerability Viewer

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UF’s SLR Sketch Planning Tool

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Flood Factor

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Climate Central

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Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS)

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Sea Level Rise Strategy

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ADD A FOOTER 26 27 ADD A FOOTER 28 Deploy Temporary Flood There are manyPanelsflood-proofing measures that can be What are the advantages? deployed to protect assets from flood damage. In many • Flood panels can be cost-effective for businesses as a cases, “dry flood-proofing measures,” or measures intended temporary solution to short-term events. to keep water out of a structure, are used to protect built assets from temporary events like storm surge or rain- • Flood panels are a less expensive method to keep water induced flooding. out of a structure in the short-term while longer-term solutions are implemented. One example of dry flood-proofing is temporary flood panels. They are used on many buildings in Miami-Dade County to What are the limitations? keep water out during short-term events. The panels are • Flood panels are a short-term solution for occasional mobile barriers deployed to protect a building or other asset flooding events; they will not work against regular tidal from short-term flooding events. These panels, which are flooding or sea level rise. typically put in place just before a storm, help temporarily keep the water out. • Flood panels are most appropriate for commercial How does it help us? businesses. Flood panels can be temporarily deployed to protect • Flood panels cannot be used to bring a substantially vulnerable buildings from short-term flooding events, such damaged or substantially improved residential structure as storm surge from an incoming hurricane. The panels into compliance with local floodplain management themselves create a seal around the building, thereby ordinances. blocking or reducing the amount of water that can get in. Flood panels provide a cheaper and more flexible option • To be effective, users must know many things before the compared to other flood-proofing tools such as raising a storm hits: 1) where the flood panels are located; 2) what building or installing permanent flood doors. However, they tools are needed to deploy them; and 3) how to install are a temporary fix and must be deployed and then removed them. to enter a structure after a flooding event. Flood panels must also be stored in an accessible place, and the user must • Flood panels can require significant storage space, time and labor to deploy. Preparing the County Courthouse Whereknow howwillto deployit work?the panels for them to be effective. How much does it cost? Temporary flood panels work best to reduce risks from Costs vary depending on level of flood protection. One study occasional events like tropical storms. They are not estimates $1,500 per linear foot of flood panel. Temporary flood panels also incur labor and storage costs. designed to permanently keep out water, so they cannot be Miami-Dade County staff install temporary flood panels around the Miami-Dade County Courthouse before Hurricane used to address sea level rise. They may be a necessary According to an analysis by the US Army Corps of Matthew in 2017. intermediate tool while longer-term solutions, like raising or Engineers, the average cost of flood-proofing an entire redeveloping a building, are implemented. Under current building with temporary flood panels is $151,000 for Date: Deployed before storms | Location: Miami-Dade County Courthouse flood insurance regulations, panels can only be used for structures between Temporary flood panels can be installed before a storm to help keep water out of certain spaces. They cannot be used commercial buildings, not for private homes. Additionally, 0 and 20,000 square feet, and $357,000 for structures as a permanent water barrier, but they are very helpful to protect against temporary flooding from a storm. Miami- Dade these panels can be labor intensive to install; therefore, they Wherebetween can30,000 youto 100 learn,000 more?square feet. County uses temporary flood panels to protect certain buildings when hurricanes are approaching. are most appropriate for institutions with sufficient staff. • Federal Emergency Management Agency – Dry Flood- proofing Measures Miami-Dade County’s Internal Services Department uses temporary flood panels to protect the basement of the County Courthouse on . The flood panels are made of aluminum and fit into permanent anchor points outside of the building. It takes two professionals to install each panel. When preparing the building for a hurricane, the panels are the last protective measure to be installed. What hazards does it Flood panels only work in the short-term to keep water out during events like address? hurricanes Because they block access to the space they are protecting, the panels are deployed just before staff members Shoreline Tidal Groundwater evacuate the building before a hurricane. During a storm, the panels help minimize the flow of water that comes into the Storm Surge Erosion Flooding Flooding basement from the streets. Because they minimize the flow of water into the building, the panels give the sump pumps inside the structure time to pump out the water that does come in. Between storms, the panels are stored on-site and can be used repeatedly during future storms. Stormwater Flooding from Saltwater Waves Flooding Canals Intrusion

154 MIAMI- DADE COUNTY SEA LEVEL RISE STRATEGY | MINI- GUIDE, TOOLS & CASE STUDIES MIAMI- DADE COUNTY SEA LEVEL RISE STRATEGY | MINI- GUIDE, TOOLS & CASE STUDIES 155 Elevate Buildings

Elevating buildings involves raising buildings above expected • Elevating buildings reduces longer-term risks from water levels as well as retrofitting them with complementary flooding exacerbated by sea level rise. measures (see Elevating Critical Equipment) to reduce the risk of flooding to the building. Elevating buildings is typically • Elevating buildings allows for roads to be raised new chlorine building most cost-effective for new construction as higher elevations can be designed into the project before construction begins. incrementally as sea levels rise. However, raising existing buildings is technically feasible, but it can be very expensive. Buildings can be elevated on pilings • Elevating a property will likely lead to reduced flood or elevated on fill to increase their height above predicted insurance premiums. flood levels. Elevating on pilings, like we see in some areas of What are the limitations? the Florida Keys, allows water to flow under a structure. Building on fill, like we see in many parts of western Miami- • It is expensive to elevate existing structures. In some Dade County, elevates the entire parcel on top of new soil that cases, the cost may exceed the value of the building. has been mined from other areas. • Elevating on fill can create drainage issues for adjacent How does it help us? properties if stormwater is not retained on site. old chlorine building • Elevating buildings can pose accessibility Elevating on pilings or on fill raises a structure out of the Therefore, buildings may need floodplain. Being above expected flood levels is often the most effective way to protect a building from flood damage. Further, elevators to facilitate access. issues. additional elevated buildings can still have certain materials below the • Elevating buildings can change neighborhoodramps or character. Elevating critical wastewater first livable floor. Like you see in the Florida Keys, it is possible to have materials on the ground level that are designed to break away during storms or let water pass through them. That How much does it cost? infrastructure way, the space can be enjoyed and used between storms for The average cost of elevating existing structures, based on certain purposes, like parking or temporary storage. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mitigation grant data is $230,000 per structure based on 192 structures Where will it work? in Florida. According to research by the U.S. Army Corps of Elevating buildings technically works everywhere, though it can Engineers, the average cost of elevating existing structures be more or less feasible depending on the structure type, size, based on market research in New Orleans (with prices Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department (WASD) constructed one of their new chlorine buildings to harden against flooding from storm surge, and age. How high a structure should be elevated depends on adjusted to Miami) is approximately $203,000 per structure. sea level rise, and rain- induced events. WASD is one of the first County departments to integrate sea level rise design standards into all their capital its location. In areas that face high storm surge risk and the projects. potential for damaging waves, it is particularly important to Note that these construction costs will vary significantly per elevate buildings. It is very important to note that it is much structure as well as per foundation type. The cost of building Location: more cost-effective to design an elevated building and build it a new building at a higher elevation is to a higher standard than to retroactively elevate an existing 0.25 to 1.5% of total construction costs for private homes The Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department (WASD) is designing improvements to their wastewater building or to flood-proof it with water-tight doors and panels. according to FEMA. Other studies of public assets have treatment plants to anticipate the impact of rising sea levels on flooding frequency and higher storm surges, among estimated 1 to 5% of construction costs per foot of elevation other events. As seen in the picture above, WASD recently constructed their new chlorine building at the Central District What are the advantages? for hardening assets, and 0.5 to 1% of construction per foot Wastewater Treatment Plant at a higher elevation to withstand future storms. Because this building is so critical to • Building above code has a proven financial benefit: for every for hardening buildings/facilities. This cost holds true for the providing wastewater treatment, the floor of the building was raised from 16 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum of $1 spent, $4 is saved. Water and Sewer Department’s Central District Wastewater 1929 (NGVD29) to 20.3 feet NGVD29. The left portion of the photo shows the floor elevation of the new chlorine TreatmentWhere canPlant you. learn more? building. Note that the doorway is at approximately the same height as the roof of the old facility on the right portion of • Elevating buildings protects against multiple flooding hazards • Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department the photo. (storm surge and groundwater, tidal, or stormwater flooding) • National Institute of Building Sciences - Natural Hazard WASD has design standards for both existing and new wastewater treatment facility assets. They prioritize which assets at once. Mitigation Saves: 2019 Report will be protected first based on a variety of factors, including protecting staff who work in the facilities and protecting equipment that is critical for treatment of wastewater. What hazards does it address? Shoreline Tidal Groundwater Storm Surge Erosion Flooding Flooding

Stormwater Flooding from Saltwater Waves Flooding Canals Intrusion

156 MIAMI- DADE COUNTY SEA LEVEL RISE STRATEGY | MINI- GUIDE, TOOLS & CASE STUDIES MIAMI- DADE COUNTY SEA LEVEL RISE STRATEGY | MINI- GUIDE, TOOLS & CASE STUDIES 157 Enhance Dunes

Dunes are natural or man-made ridges of sand along the What are the advantages? coast. Dune plants, especially their roots, help keep the • Dunes can help absorb wave energy and slow down wind sand in place and reduce erosion from wind and waves. speeds to reduce damage to buildings, trees, and Dunes are critical to coastal protection and, when paired vegetation behind them. with a healthy beach, can radically reduce storm damage. For this reason, we build up dunes through a process called • Dunes are an important part of wildlife habitats; many sea “dune restoration or enhancement.” Dune enhancement turtles and shorebirds rely on them. involves planting native plants to help trap and hold sand • Protecting and restoring dunes is important to maintain our during and between storms. This process allows dunes to healthy beaches, which drive the economy in our region. grow and strengthen. • Miami-Dade County has decades of experience enhancing There are other forms of enhancement that are not common and managing dunes, and the techniques are well in this region. In other areas, enhancement can involve understood. burying boulders or other structures beneath the dunes to What are the limitations? help strengthen them. How does it help us? • Dunes are reliant on plants which help keep sand in place. Dunes are some of the most effective buffers against storms Without plants and active management to ensure the on the coast because they can absorb wave energy and health of the coastal environment, new sand can get block or reduce storm surge flooding to areas behind them. washed or blown away. They can also reduce wind forces. Their protective value can be enhanced by planting native plants which trap the • The coastal environment is very dynamic, and a series of sand and help the dunes grow taller. strong storms or changes in wave patterns can lead to beach erosion or sand loss, as well as habitat damage, For example, the dunes along Miami Beach were over time. constructed in the 1980s. Since that time, they have grown How much does it cost? vertically by several feet due to the dune plants trapping Costs are similar to the cost of beach nourishment ($61/cubic sand and sediment over time. Because dunes are living yard), with some potential minor added cost of planting. Dune restoration in our parks systems and we actively manage them, they have an amazing potential to gradually adapt to changing conditions Where can you learn more? over time. Our continued investment could allow them to • The Nature Conservancy & the Southeast Florida Regional keep pace with sea level rise. In addition to their many Climate Change Compact - Nature-Based Coastal Dune planting by volunteers at Miami-Dade County’s helps keep dunes strong to protect against storm surge. protective benefits, dunes are also an integral component of Defenses in Southeast Florida the beach system because they provide a reserve of sand to Where will it work? help renourish the beach. • American Planning Association, Naturally Resilient Date: 2002, 2017 | Locations: Haulover Park and Crandon Park Dune creation, restoration, or enhancement works in Communities - Beaches and Dunes conjunction with any healthy beach, on any barrier island In the early 2000s, Haulover Park was selected for a much-needed dune restoration project. Since the 1980s, when the where there is room for a dune system, and in certain • Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces dunes were last nourished, invasive plants had taken root, outcompeting native plants in the area. To combat invasive locations facing . Dunes can already be found Department Volunteer Page plants and re-establish a healthy system, a two-phased plant restoration project began in 2002. The project was along many of our local beaches, including on Miami Beach intended to both help restore healthy dunes for environmental benefits and to provide storm surge protection. and in Crandon Park on . The Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces (PROS) Department worked with partners to plant native plants and remove invasive plants at Haulover Park. As part of the restoration, PROS surveyed, monitored, and planted What hazards does it rare, threatened, and endangered sand dune species at the site. During the project, PROS restored 4,510 feet of dunes address? and planted 13,400 native dune plants. The restoration helps the dunes gradually trap sand in the wind and grow taller over time. Restoration makes dunes better able to protect our communities from waves, storm surge, and erosion. Shoreline Tidal Groundwater Storm Surge Erosion Flooding Flooding In recent years, the County has been focused on enhancing our existing dunes, especially after Hurricane Irma in 2017. The PROS Department has hosted various volunteer groups at Crandon Park, who have helped with small-scale sea oat plantings on the dunes. These plants help stabilize the dunes and will help manage long-term erosion accelerated Stormwater Flooding from Saltwater Waves by sea level rise. Flooding Canals Intrusion

164 MIAMI- DADE COUNTY SEA LEVEL RISE STRATEGY | MINI- GUIDE, TOOLS & CASE STUDIES MIAMI- DADE COUNTY SEA LEVEL RISE STRATEGY | MINI- GUIDE, TOOLS & CASE STUDIES 165 Preserve Wetlands

Coastal wetlands provide innumerable benefits by What are the advantages? expanding habitat and improving air and water quality. • Existing wetlands provide fish and wildlife habitat. When they are healthy and intact, they can also help protect our communities from hurricanes and long-term sea level • Existing wetlands can act as carbon sinks, meaning they rise. Preserving wetlands through conservation programs help mitigate climate change. ensures that the protective benefits they provide to our • Existing wetlands, particularly mangrove forests, limit communities are not lost. Without the protection of existing shoreline erosion by absorbing wave energy. wetlands through programs like the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) program, some of these lands • Wetlands can prevent saltwater intrusion. could be redeveloped, and the existing ecosystems could be partially or completely destroyed. What are the limitations? How does it help us? • Wetlands provide the most benefits to communities and Existing wetlands provide many benefits to our communities. the environment when they are intact, mature, and healthy. For example, an existing, healthy mangrove forest can act as a buffer between waves and a neighborhood by reducing • Local wetland conservation programs are not fully funded wave energy. A young or fragmented forest cannot provide and need additional investment to realize full benefits. these same benefits. Though exact values will vary by location, a local study found that our existing mangrove How much does it cost? forests effectively reduced storm surge and flooding in areas impacted by Hurricane Wilma. In addition to their storm EEL Program acquisition, restoration, and maintenance protection benefits, wetlands can help prevent saltwater costs vary widely depending on the size of the wetland, the intrusion into our aquifer and can trap sand, which prevents location, and needed restoration actions. sand loss (or erosion) over time. Where can you learn more? Where will it work? • Miami-Dade County Endangered Environmentally Endangered Lands Wetlands preservation efforts are limited to undeveloped Environme areas where these ecosystems already exist. These areas ntally Lands Program Endangered tend to be concentrated in the southern and western portions Program of the county. The EEL program, as well as state, federal, • Miami-Dade County and private conservation programs, are working to acquire Environme more areas. ntally Lands Program Volunteer

Workdays The Environmentally Endangered Lands program manages more than 23,500 protected acres. Volunteers and advocates are critical to the success of the program. In South Dade, there are additional wetland preservation and restoration projects, like the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project.

Since 1990, Miami-Dade County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) has been acquiring and managing environmentally endangered lands for preservation. The EEL Program and its partners have bought and protected more than 20,700 acres of land. These lands help to sequester carbon, protect our drinking water wellfields, reduce the What hazards does it impacts of floods, and complement regional restoration efforts such as the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration address? Project. In addition, the EEL Program manages 2,800 acres of natural lands within the Miami-Dade County parks system which serves as recreational space for residents and tourists alike. Collectively, the Program manages over Shoreline Tidal Groundwater Storm Surge 23,500 of protected acres. Erosion Flooding Flooding The EEL Program recently acquired more than 100 acres of land along the Card Sound Road. This purchase provides a number of benefits but will especially help with supporting a hydrologic project in the canal to manage saltwater Stormwater Flooding from Saltwater Waves intrusion. In addition to this project, preserving wetlands in the central and southern portions of the County also Flooding Canals Intrusion preserves public lands along the natural mangrove coast and provides protection against storms. Beyond helping with sea level rise, the EEL Program lands provide protection of globally-threatened habitats. These ecosystems have high biological diversity and provide critical refuge for rare species that would otherwise be lost.

184 MIAMI- DADE COUNTY SEA LEVEL RISE STRATEGY | MINI- GUIDE, TOOLS & CASE STUDIES MIAMI- DADE COUNTY SEA LEVEL RISE STRATEGY | MINI- GUIDE, TOOLS & CASE STUDIES 185 Expand Green Spaces

Expanding our green spaces, like parks and wetlands, What are the advantages? increases the amount of land available to hold water during • Green spaces can retain water during heavy rain events rain events and to serve as a buffer against storm surge, and help prevent flood impacts to homes, roads, critical particularly along the coast and canals. In some cases, infrastructure, and other community assets. green spaces can be expanded on a large scale. For example, we can expand existing acquisition programs to • Green spaces improve water quality by filtering stormwater protect entire areas of wetlands to the west and south that run-off before it enters canals or the Bay. are located outside of the Urban Development Boundary, or • Green spaces increase habitat for wildlife and plants. the planning boundary that delineates the areas in which we can develop in Miami-Dade County. • Green spaces reduce urban heat to help keep us cooler.

Green spaces can also be expanded at the community scale. • Green spaces reduce stress, increase lifespans, and By acquiring a property in an urban area or neighborhood to provide many other health benefits. create a park, we can provide recreational amenities, like playgrounds or trails. A park can also be designed to hold • Green spaces increase recreational opportunities for water during rain events. Expanding our green spaces has residents and tourists. multiple advantages and is an effective tool to address long- How does it help us? • Properties near parks have been shown to increase in term sea level rise by making more room for water. value. Green spaces can act as a buffer to waves and storm surge, What are the limitations? thereby decreasing damage to communities and reducing • Creating green spaces on flood-prone parcels removes Creating connected greenways and blueways erosion along our coastline. To further reduce impacts from housing from our housing stock. waves, green spaces with limited or no development can be enhanced with additional natural features such as urban • Property values are high in Miami-Dade County, making it forests, mangroves, and living shorelines. difficult for governments to compete to acquire parcels for An aerial view of the Snake Creek Trail (above) which connects to Sierra Park. Miami-Dade County has implemented more than 160 green spaces. miles of trails with the goal of implementing a network of more than 500 miles of greenways and trails. Green spaces provide many other benefits. They can help block debris from moving through our canal system during • Green spaces remove land from the real estate market, storm events, reduce stormwater runoff, and support potentially reducing the tax base. Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces (PROS) Department works to create and expand recreational recreation and physical and mental well-being. They can How much does it cost? opportunities and green spaces for residents. In the last 10 years, PROS has acquired more than 180 acres of property also reduce the risk of saltwater intrusion by holding excess Costs associated with expanding and improving parks and across the County. water and allowing it to recharge our aquifer. Like waterfront open space include the cost to acquire property and the cost In northern Miami-Dade County, PROS manages a recreational amenity for the community called the Snake Creek setbacks, they can also be used for recreation when they to maintain the park. Acquisition costs vary by location. Trail. The trail is a nearly 8-mile multi-use path next to a canal for walkers, runners, cyclists, and other users. It is a Whereare not floodedwill it. work? Maintenance costs depend on types of park features. recreation “greenway” that connects Greynolds Park and Sierra Park. In addition to its recreational value, the trail helps Increasing multipurpose green spaces will work in most Where can you learn more? protect the community from flooding by creating a setback, or buffer, between houses and other structures and the areas. For flood protection benefits, this tool will be most canal. effective along waterways and along Biscayne Bay. In these • Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces waterfront areas, green spaces can serve as protective Department - Parks and Open Space System Master Recently, the PROS Department acquired a 2.2-acre lake-adjacent property, called Arthur Woodard Park, located at buffers during storms and can become part of the greenways Plan NW 99th Street and NW 12th Avenue. Locating the park near a lake provides an additional protective buffer from and blueways trails network outlined in the Miami-Dade flooding in the future and reduces stormwater runoff in the neighborhood. The park also increases water access to the County Parks Master Plan. lake for this community.

The County will continue to expand parks, open spaces, and green infrastructure well into the future in order to filter and What hazards does it store more water, mitigate climate change impacts and increase opportunities for outdoor recreation for our growing address? community. Shoreline Tidal Groundwater Storm Surge Erosion Flooding Flooding

Stormwater Flooding from Saltwater Waves Flooding Canals Intrusion

166 MIAMI- DADE COUNTY SEA LEVEL RISE STRATEGY | MINI- GUIDE, TOOLS & CASE STUDIES MIAMI- DADE COUNTY SEA LEVEL RISE STRATEGY | MINI- GUIDE, TOOLS & CASE STUDIES 167 Restore Mangroves & Marshes After Before

Miami-Dade County has lost a substantial area of mangroves What are the advantages? and marshes to development. Restoring mangroves and • Mangroves and marshes act as carbon sinks, so restoring marshes brings back habitat and water quality benefits. them can help mitigate climate change. While restoration efforts have focused on maximizing value to ecosystems, restoration projects also have potential co- • Restoring mangroves and marshes can increase natural benefits. barriers to protect communities. How does it help us? • Restoring mangroves and marshes increases fish and Mangroves are amazing trees: their roots and trunks can wildlife habitat, commercial fishing opportunities, and reduce wave energy. Marshes that are wide and mature can recreational fishing and snorkeling opportunities. therefore reduce storm damage to communities by reducing the force and impact of waves. Additionally, healthy • Restoring mangroves and marshes can help improve mangroves and marshes have the potential to grow water quality. vertically and transition to higher ground to keep up with sea level rise. If there is available space, this process can What are the limitations? ultimately reduce the amount of habitat we will lose as sea • Restoration takes time. Preserving existing wetlands is levels rise. However, successful restoration takes time. crucial to benefit from mature, dense, healthy wetlands. While restoration is crucial, it is also necessary to preserve existing wetlands to protect the remaining mature wetlands • Mangroves and marshes need space to migrate inland to we already have. higher ground as sea levels rise. Mangrove restoration in Where will it work? • As living organisms, wetland ecosystems can be stressed by changing water quality or new environmental conditions. Mangroves and marshes typically thrive in or near calm Card Sound Canal waters as opposed to areas with high waves. These • Mangroves and marshes need wide areas of land to be ecosystems also have a very specific tolerance for different effective against waves. Mangrove restoration has been successful on the “earthen plug,” part of the Card Sound Canal restoration project that began in the early 2000s. levels of regular flooding from tides. If the waters become The image above was taken shortly after mangroves were planted; the image to the right shows the plug in its current state. too deep, the plants can die. These ecosystems need to trap • Expanding restoration largely depends on the County’s sediment and have space to migrate inland to higher ground ability to acquire coastal land or on private landowners Date: 2000s | Location: Card Sound Road, southern Miami-Dade County | Cost: $1.2 million (restoration & to adapt and survive in the face of sea level rise. Howengagingmuchin restorationdoes it cost?activities. enhancement costs) Miami-Dade County has completed many restoration The cost is approximately $100,000 per acre. Costs can Saltwater intrusion into our freshwater aquifer is one consequence of sea level rise. To slow saltwater intrusion and to projects through the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration increase if there are any complications such as contaminated help restore the local ecosystem, Miami-Dade County has pursued two projects in the Card Sound canal. Plan and the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) sediment that requires special disposal, if the site is difficult program, including along the Oleta River Corridor. to access and requires barge access, if there are excessive In the 2000s, the County began with a pilot project to strategically fill the canal and plant mangroves in the filled section. However, development pressures need to be addressed to amounts of solid waste or invasive vegetation that require An “earthen plug,” or a barrier made of soil, was built in the canal to help restore the natural condition and slow the give restored mangroves and marshes space to grow and clearing, or if other infrastructure (such as revetments) are drainage of freshwater. The earthen plug was planted with red mangrove seedlings, which increased wetland habitat. migrate. required as a complementary measure. Before this project, the canal was exacerbating local saltwater intrusion. Restoring the wetlands in the canal protects the Where can you learn more? freshwater upstream. • Miami-Dade County, Mangrove Wetlands The mangrove restoration has also improved water quality within the aquifer and wetlands in the area. The area is currently being managed to ensure that appropriate plants continue to thrive. The enhancement of native plant • Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida’s communities should increase wildlife habitat around the project area. The improved hydrology should also help smaller Mangroves organisms at the base of the food chain flourish, which will in turn help larger animals thrive. After the pilot project, the County moved forward with another restoration project in the area. We have allocated $600,000 toward this project and What hazards does it recently received $600,000 in additional funding from the State of Florida. This will help to restore more than an 800-foot address? segment of the canal a few miles upstream. This area, which will ultimately become sawgrass wetlands, will help slow Shoreline Tidal Groundwater the intrusion of saltwater into the South Dade area. Storm Surge Erosion Flooding Flooding To begin the restoration project, the canal will be filled with clean limerock material then restored using native vegetation found in freshwater wetlands. This project will directly restore 0.65 acre of wetlands, but it will contribute to the health of Stormwater Flooding from Saltwater a much larger area. The hydrology and vegetation withing the existing wetlands in the vicinity will be restored or Waves Flooding Canals Intrusion enhanced by allowing the system to convert to a more freshwater driven system. This project will also be helped by the large project in this area that the land acquisition County recently completed through the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) program.

192 MIAMI- DADE COUNTY SEA LEVEL RISE STRATEGY | MINI- GUIDE, TOOLS & CASE STUDIES MIAMI- DADE COUNTY SEA LEVEL RISE STRATEGY | MINI- GUIDE, TOOLS & CASE STUDIES 193 Adaptation Team

Katie Monica Christian

Katherine.Hagemann@ Monica.Gregory@ Christian.Kamrath@ miamidade.gov miamidade.gov miamidade.gov

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